Top 14 Things to Do on the Island of Kauai

Kauai is Hawaii's Garden Isle, known for its lush foliage, beautiful flowers, and long white sand beaches. As the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, it's the perfect island for a honeymoon or romantic getaway, but also a great place for a family vacation. We've chosen our top 14 things to do on the island of Kauai, Hawaii.

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See Kauai from the Air

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If you ever take a helicopter ride in Hawaii, do so on Kauai. Why? Much of the island can only be seen from the air, so there's no better way to get a handle on this incredible landscape than by doing so from a helicopter.

Most tours last between 50 minutes and an hour. Some companies offer longer tours, usually accompanied by a stop or designed for the serious photographer. At least one company offers tours with the doors off, allowing for even better photos (no glare from the windows). Popular companies for tours include Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Island Helicopters, and Jack Harter Helicopters.

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See the Breathtaking Waimea Canyon

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A must-see for all visitors to Kauai is the amazing Waimea Canyon. At 10 miles long, two miles wide and 3,600 feet deep, Mark Twain nicknamed Waimea Canyon the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." With its deep reds, greens and browns, each created by a different volcanic flow over centuries, many feel that it's even more colorful than the Grand Canyon.

Located in the western part of Kauai, two roads make their way up to the canyon, both from the southern part of the island: Waimea Canyon Road (State Highway 550) from the town of Waimea and Koke'e Road (State Highway 55) from the town of Kekaha. Both have a number of viewpoints offering excellent views of the coast and the island of Ni'ihau. Our suggestion? Take one road up to the canyon and the other down.

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Explore Limahuli Garden and Preserve

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Selected in 1997 as the best natural botanical garden in the U.S by the American Horticultural Society, Limahuli Garden and Preserve extends over 1,000 acres in a verdant tropical valley covering three distinct ecological zones on Kauai's wet north shore in Ha'ena.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve is set in the Lawa'i Valley in Ha'ena on the north shore of Kauai. It extends over 1,000 acres in a verdant tropical valley covering three distinct ecological zones.

The Garden is back-dropped by the majestic Makana Mountain and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. In Hawaiian, the name Limahuli means "turning hands," which recognizes the ancient Hawaiians who built agricultural terraces out of lava rock and planted cultivars of kalo (taro), an essential cultural food crop.

The plant collections at Limahuli Garden focus on the beauty of plants that are native to Hawaii and culturally significant to Hawaiians. They include endemic Hawaiian species, plants introduced by the early Polynesian voyagers, as well as culturally essential plants that were introduced during the plantation era starting in the mid-1800s. The collections in Limahuli Garden are used for conservation, cultural perpetuation, and education.

Both guided and self-guided tours are offered over a 3/4-mile walk on a loop trail.

Take an ATV Tour of Kipu Ranch

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The only way that you can explore the area of Kauai between Lihue and Po'ipu that is marked by the majestic Ha'upu Mountain Range is on an ATV Tour with Kipu Ranch Adventures.

Kipu Ranch is a 3,000-acre working cattle ranch located in the historic Kipu area of Kauai. The land was once owned by the Hawaiian monarchy, but sold to William Hyde Rice in 1872. Rice, the son of Protestant missionaries, was a loyal subject who later served as the last governor of Kauai under Queen Liliuokalani. Rice intended to use the land to breed cattle and horses.

Livestock remained the ranch's primary business until 1907 when Rice's son began to grow sugarcane. In the early 1940s, the family once again returned the land to ranching which remains its use today.

To supplement their income, the ranch has contracted with Kipu Ranch Adventures to offer a limited number of daily tours. These tours are the only way to explore the ranch since the land has no public access roads.

Numerous motion pictures have been filmed on the ranch's land including "Diamond Head"and "The Hawaiians" both starring Charlton Heston, "Islands InThe Stream," "The Lost World" (the sequel to "Jurassic Park"), and "Outbreak." The best-known films that have used the ranch are "The Descendants" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

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Take a Drive Along Kauai's North Shore

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No visit to Kauai would be complete without a drive along Kauai's North Shore.

A drive along the North Shore takes you to several beautiful locations including Na 'Aina Kai Botanical Garden, the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Secret Beach, 'Anini Beach, Princeville and the St. Regis Princeville Resort and the Hanalei Valley Overlook.

If you then drive down into the Hanalei Valley, you can visit the Hanalei Pier, Hanalei Bay, and Hanalei Town. From there you can visit some of the most lovely beaches on Kauai: Lumaha'i Beach, Wainiha Beach, Kepuhi Beach and Tunnels Beach.

Then you should stop at Limahuli Garden which sits at the foot of the awe-inspiring Mt. Makana. Finally, you can enter Ha'ena State Park and end your journey at Ke'e Beach and the start of the Kalalau Trail.

The drive is not that long, but to see it all in one day is hard. You'll want to plan on spending at least a couple of days exploring all that Kauai's North Shore has to offer.

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Spend an Afternoon and Evening at Kilohana Plantation and Luau Kalamaku

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On Kauai, there's only one place where you can ride a historic train, hike through a rainforest and orchard, taste Kauai's only island-made rum, shop, dine at one of Kauai's top restaurants and finally enjoy one of the island's best luaus. That place is Kilohana Plantation.

Kilohana Plantation is rooted in Kauai's long history of agriculture. The centerpiece of Kilohana Plantation is the historic Gaylord Wilcox mansion built in 1935 by Gaylord Parke Wilcox and his wife, Ethel.

The Kauai Plantation Railway recreates the sugar trains which once crisscrossed the Island in the days of steam engines. The 2.5-mile train ride takes passengers through a 70-acre plantation, where they can view exotic crops, enjoy views not seen from public highways, and learn of the history and future of tropical agriculture in Hawaii.

Lu'au Kalamaku has been welcoming guests since 2007 and is the state's only luau show performed "in-the-round," offering great views from every seat in the house. Featuring a state-of-the-art media system and an interactive stage design, the show includes a cast of approximately 50 dancers and musicians including an award-winning fire knife dancer.

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Explore the Wailua River Valley

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A trip up the Wailua River Valley either by boat or kayak is a must for any first-time visitor to Kauai. The valley has been used to film such films as Outbreak and "Raiders of the Lost Ark." A boat trip takes you to the Fern Grotto which has recently been restored after years of neglect. A kayak trip can take you even further on Hawaii's only navigable river.

The boat captain narrates the ride along the river pointing out points of interest, describing the flora a fauna along the river's banks and relating tales of the significance of the river and surrounding areas (such as Mount Kapu) to early Hawaiians.

Guests arrive at the grotto area in less than 30 minutes and the make the short walk through the rainforest to the Fern Grotto area itself where they encounter a small group of entertainers who perform the Hawaiian Wedding Song, a long tradition in at the Fern Grotto. Over 19,000 weddings have taken place at the Grotto. Even today four or five take place each week.

As is a long tradition with Smith's, the return trip down the river features live Hawaiian music and hula dancers.

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Play a Round of Golf

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There is no question Kauai is a golfer's paradise. The Garden Island is home to many of Hawaii's top golf courses and boast some of the most scenic and challenging layouts in Hawaii.

In fact, no fewer than six of Hawaii's top golf courses are located on the Garden Island of Kauai: Kiahuna Golf Club, Makai Golf Club, the Ocean Course at Hokuala Resort, the Poipu Bay Golf Course, Princeville Golf Club, and Puakea Golf Course.

Kauai has a great selection of courses with greens fees that range from discount to resort, but even the more expensive courses offer some specials when you purchase multiple rounds. There are courses located all around the island, so no matter where you're staying, there will always be an excellent golf course nearby.

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Visit Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

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The Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge is a must stop for visitors to Kauai's north shore, offering amazing views overlooking the Pacific, a unique opportunity to observe seabirds in their habitat and a chance to visit the historic Kilauea Lighthouse.

The centerpiece of the refuge is the historic Kilauea Lighthouse, built in 1913 and in operation until 1976 when it was replaced by an automatic beacon. The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979

Managed since 1985 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the ocean cliffs and open grassy slopes of an extinct volcano provide breeding grounds for native Hawaiian seabirds and nene, the endangered Hawaiian goose.

Kilauea Point offers the opportunity to view red-footed boobies, Laysan albatrosses, wedge-tailed shearwaters, and other seabirds in their natural habitat. The National Marine Sanctuary waters surrounding the refuge are home to Hawaiian monk seals, green turtles, and, in winter, humpback whales.

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Enjoy Kauai's Sunny South Shore

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The southern shore of Kauai is the area between Maha'ulepu Beach in the east and Lawa'i Bay in the west.

It includes the expansive Poipu Resort area with its excellent hotels, resorts and condominium resorts and some of the world's most beautiful beaches with beautiful sunsets and sunny days. You may even see a monk seal sunbathing on the beach in the late afternoon.

The new Kukui`ula Village shopping center offers excellent shops, galleries and restaurants. A short drive along the coast will take you past Koloa Landing and Prince Kuhio Park to Spouting Horn where you can see one of Hawaii's most famous blowholes. The nearby National Tropical Botanical Garden offers tours. Their Allerton Garden Tour is the only way to access beautiful Lawa'i Bay.

A short drive inland will take you to historic Koloa Town, once a major plantation town in the Kauai sugar industry. Today there is an excellent History Center and numerous shops and restaurants.

If time allows, head further inland and back to Rt. 50 (Kaumuali'i Highway). Head west and explore the lovely towns of Hanapepe and Waimea. Be sure to stop by Salt Pond Beach Park near Hanapepe, one of Hawaii's loveliest beaches.

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Go to the Beach

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The island of Kauai has 43 gorgeous white sand beaches stretching over 50 miles, more beach per mile than any other island in Hawaii.

Po'ipu Beach is the beach lover's beach, a family-friendly spot for swimming, snorkeling, boogie boarding, and simply peering into tide pools. Turtles love this reef-protected beach, so turtle-watching is often a bonus.

On the west side, partially protected by a reef, the Salt Pond Beach Park is the best family beach, popular for swimming, picnicking, or exploring tide pools near the Hawaiian salt ponds that give the beach its name.

In Nawiliwili, near Lihu'e, the half-mile crescent of Kalapaki Beach is beach boy central, a recreational nexus of canoe riding, catamaran sailing, surfing, swimming, wave riding, and every beach sport imaginable. And you don't have to limit yourself to the ocean. Kayakers can explore the glassy Hule'ia River nearby, featured in Raiders of the Lost Ark, and gaze at the Koloa duck and other endangered birds from a wildlife refuge on the river.

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See Where Jurassic Park Was Filmed

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Anyone who has seen the movie "Jurassic Park" remembers these trees. They're Moreton Bay fig trees and you can see them up close and personal at Allerton Garden on Kauai. Allerton Garden is part of the National Tropical Botanical Gardens which has three individual gardens on Kauai.

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Take a Movie Tour

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Kauai is a movie maker's paradise and has been for over 70 years! Over the years well over 100 motion pictures and TV shows have been filmed on Kauai and the pace has not slowed.

The list of iconic motion pictures that have filmed on Kauai is very impressive. They include: "Blue Hawaii," "The Descendants," "Jurassic Park," "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Six Days Seven Nights," "South Pacific," and "The Wackiest Ship in the Army."

It's not surprising then that a natural fit for the tourism industry and Kauai would be a tour that focuses on taking visitors to many of the actual locations used in filming many of these motion pictures. Polynesian Adventure Tours offers an Ali'i Movie Excursion and Scenic Hanalei tour.

Following hotel pickup, the tour's route begins at Ahukini Pier at Hanama'ulu Bay near Lihue Airport and proceeds northward along the eastern coast of Kauai, better known as the Coconut Coast. The tour makes several stops along the way to Kauai's North Shore and the town of Hanalei where they stop for lunch. They then make their way back down the coast by early afternoon.

The tour bus is equipped with a large, flat screen television on which guests see clips from the actual movies made on Kauai just before stopping at the location seen in the clips that have just been shown. In between stops, the tour guide talks about the island, it's culture, history and geography, and keeps guests thoroughly entertained with his great sense of humor.

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Revisit Kauai's Plantation Days at Grove Farm

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Grove Farm is a beautifully preserved one hundred acre homestead in the center of Lihue that includes the original plantation main house, owner’s cottage, guest cottage, old office, as well as other resident and plantation workers’ housing camp.

The ongoing active household and farm with its animals, gardens, banana patches and pastures, maintain the same cleaning and agricultural schedules and practices that were established in the 1870’s.